Punishment: You Can Break The Law, But Not TOO Much

Now I had mentioned just a little while ago the idea that governments are putting up the
facade that they are diligently enforcing the laws to protect the American people from
drivers and companies that are breaking these laws...especially those laws that pertain to the
number of hours a driver can legally drive in any given period of time.

This enforcement is like walking a tight rope because if the news begins reporting that a
growing number of drivers are falling asleep at the wheel it will begin to cause public
outrage. The people will turn to their elected officials and ask, “Why aren't you protecting us?
Isn't that why we elected you? What is being done about this?”

Yet if the government clamps down too tightly on the industry then they will begin to choke
off the nation's economy and create even more congestion on the roadways which will cause
even greater outrage amongst the voting citizens. So how does the government achieve this
tricky balance? It's a combination of quelling the public outrage and keeping the law-breaking
below an acceptable level.

...governments are putting up the
facade that they are diligently enforcing the laws to protect the American people from
drivers and companies that are breaking these laws.

Lets say that there is a major accident involving a tractor trailer. Any experienced driver
will tell you that often times after such an accident occurs, especially if it is deemed the be
the fault of the truck driver and the news reporters are covering the accident extensively, the
state in which the accident occurred will have a BOAT LOAD of police agencies and DOT
enforcement out on the prowl for the next few days or a week where they are clearly in the
public eye. This let's people know that something is being done about it.

It's a simple matter of quelling the public outrage.

The general public has a rather short memory when it comes to such things though. The
news will cover the story for a day, maybe even two or three days, and then it will slide into
the background behind the latest incredible news events and quickly be forgotten.

However, every time the public becomes outraged with the elected officials it puts another
chink in their armor and over time can build up to tarnish their reputations as the “protectors
of the people” and hurt their chances at re-election. So they would rather not be spending their
time and goodwill trying to quell public outrage, they would rather prevent it altogether.

Join Us!

We have an awesome set of tools that will help you understand the trucking industry and prepare for a great start to your trucking career. Not only that, but everything we offer here at TruckingTruth is 100% free - no strings attached! Sign up now and get instant access to our member's section:

Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth

Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:

About Us

TruckingTruth was founded by Brett Aquila (that's me!), a 15 year truck driving veteran, in January 2007. After 15 years on the road I wanted to help people understand the trucking industry and everything that came with the career and lifestyle of an over the road trucker. We'll help you make the right choices and prepare for a great start to your trucking career.

Becoming A Truck Driver

Becoming A Truck Driver is a dream we've all pondered at some point in our lives. We've all wondered if the adventure and challenges of life on the open road would suit us better than the ordinary day to day lives we've always known. At TruckingTruth we'll help you decide if trucking is right for you and help you get your career off to a great start.